Dorothy B. Rathfon, World War II veteran
Dorothy B. Rathfon, 93, of Georgetown, passed away peacefully Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, while a resident of the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford.
Mrs. Rathfon was born in the small town of Shamut near Brockport, Pa. July 18, 1919, daughter of the late George and Edith Bish. Mrs. Rathfon graduated from Bradford High School in 1937.
Dorothy worked for the Bell Aircraft Company as a router and clerk. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert Lee Rathfon Aug. 30, 1939. Dorothy joined the Navy Aug. 12, 1944, and was stationed in Pensacola, Fla. She was trained by Aircraft Instruments (company out of Chicago, Ill.) and held certifications in airplane parts and as a storeroom clerk. As a World War II veteran she served her country holding the rank of Seaman First Class in the U.S. Navy.
In 1964 she traveled to Iran with her family and lived there for two years. Once back in the states, Dorothy and her family lived in Bridgeville, and Dover. They purchased property at Collins Pond, just outside of Georgetown, where they built their home and raised their sons. Dorothy volunteered for the Republican Party, loved to play cards, was part owner of Collins Pond Crafts where she produced beautifully crafted and painted ceramics, and she was an active member of the Cheerful Notes Glee Club for 10 years and also a member of the Harrington Senior Center.
She loved traveling, going to Florida with Bob to their winter home, playing shuffleboard, golf, bowling, and loved spending time at Disney World with her children and grandchildren along with her sister Beverly and her husband Lou. Dorothy or Mommom as everyone knew her (along with PopPop) was an avid supporter of her grandchildren’s activities: Little League (both baseball and softball), dance, gymnastics, swim team, band concerts, cheerleading, parades, school fundraisers, and Boy Scouts.
In addition to her parents, Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Robert L. Rathfon (who passed away in May 2001); brother George ‘Bob’ Bish; sister: Genevieve Daniels; and brothers-in-law Tony Daniels and Louis Andersen.
She is survived by her sister: Beverly Andersen of Ohio, her two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas L. and Louise (Cox) Rathfon of Georgetown, and Scott L. and Lynn (Warren) Rathfon of Lincoln; five grandchildren: John M. McCarty III, Janine M. Ezell (Bryson), Trevor L. Rathfon (Chelsie), Dana L. Rathfon and Jenna D. Rathfon; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 7, at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro. A gathering of family and friends will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Georgetown, immediately following the memorial services.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions/donations to the CHEERful Notes Glee Club, c/o CHEER, Inc., 546 S. Bedford St., Georgetown, DE 19947; Delaware Veterans Home, 100 Veterans Blvd., Milford, DE 19963; or Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.
Arrangements in the care of Short Funeral Services, Georgetown.
